SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 201, 25 August 1937, Page 6

SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY.

The official blessing recently given to a motorist who drove his car on a public highway at SO miles per hour demands more attention than it has hitherto received. Surely it is contrary to public policy to approve speeds on the public highway which should be allowed only on an enclosed private race track. Was the magistrate aware that, supposing the motor car in question to weigh one and a half tons, the kinetic energy in foot tons would reach the enormous figure of 320.24 tons, which is a fearsome potential instrument of destruction to other users of the public highway? Again, a speed of 117.33 feet per second requires driving skill of the highest order, which is not the equipment of the average driver. While the magistrate ruled that SO mile.s per hour was a safe speed under the conditions existing at the time, he failed to recognise that he was dealing with external conditions only. Equally, and probably far more important, were the internal factors of a potential disaster. For instance, the friction and consequent heating of the tyres might have resulted in any of the tyres bursting. What was their actual physical condition? Were they suitable for high speed ? Any of the four axles might have fractured under the extreme torsion strain; any of the links, pins, rods and quadrants comprising the steering gear might have carried away; a sudden seizure of the driver, even in a fit of coughing—is he justified in legally risking his life and those of his fellow passengers; in jeopardising the interests, not to mention the legal rights, of insurance companies, by wilfully inviting damage to life and property ? While the trend of legislation is to reduce speeds to safe margins, in order to minimise danger to lives and property, it is definitely against public policy that this particular case should be held up as a classic decision on speeds, and thus encourage road hogs to treat the public highways as their private racing tracks. If the letter of the law sanctions this, then it should be speedily concerns mentioned. W. THOMAS.